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Stones out; Townsend and Walker in

John Stones is so good that Roy Hodgson had to call up two players to replace him – a right-back and a winger.

Kyle Walker and Andros Townsend have been called up to the England squad after Stones – subject of a failed £35m bid from Chelsea this summer – pulled out through injury.

Stones missed the last two Everton games after suffering a knee injury in their Capital One Cup win over Reading on September 22.

Roy Hodgson named Stones in his squad for the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers against Estonia and Lithuania when it was announced last week, but on Tuesday night the Football Association confirmed the 21-year-old had withdrawn.

‘Everton defender John Stones, who missed the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Sunday, has been ruled out due to injury,’ an FA statement read.

The FA confirmed Tottenham duo Walker and Townsend had been called up as a result. Statistics suggest that Hodgson should have looked towards Wilfried Zaha instead.

Walker has not played for England since the 1-1 draw in Italy in March, while Townsend last featured in the victory over Slovenia four months ago.